REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
Grizzly bear cubs play on the snow in the Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, June 24, 2011. Picture taken June 24, 2011.
The Interior Department plans to remove the federal protections that the Yellowstone grizzly bear has had under the Endangered Species Act for the last 42 years, officials announced on June 22.
In 1975, there were as few as 136 Yellowstone grizzly bears; there are now approximately 700.
"As a kid who grew up in Montana, I can tell you that this is a long time coming and very good news for many communities and advocates in the Yellowstone region," Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a statement. "This achievement stands as one of America's great conservation successes; the culmination of decades of hard work and dedication on the part of the state, tribal, federal and private partners. As a Montanan, I'm proud of what we've achieved together."
The main question here is who administers the bear populations. Delisting the grizzly means that states will manage populations and can allow hunting of the bears when they venture outside the National Park. The federal government spent about $1.7 billion on protecting the more than 2,000 species covered by the act in 2012.
Conservation groups say the population recovery is impressive but that there are still major concerns about the decision. Bear populations are still only at 1% to 2% of what they used to be.